Suspicious Powder In Letter Prompts Evacuation At Gov’t Building In Redwood City

REDWOOD CITY (KCBS) – Part of a San Mateo County government building in Redwood City was evacuated Thursday because an employee received a letter with an unknown white powder inside.

The code enforcement offices of the San Mateo County Planning Department, on the second floor of 455 County Center, have been evacuated so a hazardous materials team can investigate, according to police.

San Mateo County Sherriff’s Det. Rebecca Rosenblatt said the employee received the letter Wednesday afternoon, but did not report it until the following morning.

“It got on her fingers and mouth,” Rosenblatt said, adding the woman briefly experienced a burning sensation but no other ill effects.

“She just continued about her day and left the letter on her boss’s desk and went home,” Rosenblatt said.

Authorities were called to the County Center complex around 8:30 a.m. on Thursday. Rosenblatt said the substance has since been removed from building, and employees were allowed back in around 11 a.m.

(Copyright 2013 by CBS San Francisco. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.)